Bartholomew County deputies arrested a man who allegedly ran from officers after he was spotted walking along railroad tracks early Monday morning.

According to police reports, a deputy was in the area of Jonesville Road and Jonathan Moore Pike when he noticed a man walking along the railroad tracks at about 12:40 a.m. Monday morning. When the deputy tried to talk to the man, he ran away and allegedly threw an item into the woods.

The man, identified as 47-year-old Hugh T. Galbraith of Columbus, was stopped and a police dog recovered what appears to be methamphetamine in the area where the object had been thrown, according to police reports.

Galbraith was arrested on preliminary charges of resisting law enforcement and railroad trespassing. The sheriff’s department says more charges could be coming.

An Edinburgh man was arrested Sunday by Bartholomew County deputies after a traffic stop when drugs were discovered.

According to the sheriff’s department reports, deputies pulled over a vehicle on North U.S. 31 at West Market Place Drive at just after midnight Sunday morning. A search revealed syringes, baggies of a green leafy material and a bag with white crystals inside.

The driver, 52-year-old Ronnie Houchens was arrested on charges including possessing methamphetamine and marijuana, as well as possession of a legend drug injection device.

If you are interested in helping those in our community with addictions, the Alliance for Substance Abuse Progress in Bartholomew County will be offering an information session about volunteer needs at The Hub.

The Hub is the centralized location where those needing help getting into recovery can access all of the community resources and programs to get them on track. The Hub needs volunteers including drivers, case management, recovery coaches and life & employment skills educators.

To find out more about those opportunities or others, an information session will be Wednesday from 3:30 to 4:15 p.m. at The Hub, in the Doug Otto United Way Center at 1531 13th Street, across the street from Sans Souci.

For more information, you can contact Volunteer Services Manager Tracey Clark at (812) 418-8705.

INDOT is looking for students interested in decorating a snow plow blade.

The state agency has opened up applications for Paint the Plow 2020 campaign and is looking for middle schools, high schools and career-technical schools to participate.

Students at chosen schools will be partnered with local INDOT facilities to create artwork that represents the school, painted on the blade of an INDOT snowplow. INDOT says this is a way to enhance public awareness, to promote safety and to foster appreciation of both INDOT and the school.

To take part you can go online to visit painttheplow.indot.in.gov

Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers is warning of scammers impersonating the Social Security Administration.

The fake callers will tell you that you there has been fraudulent activity on your Social Security account. Myers points out that the scammers will try to get information from you that they can exploit, including social security numbers or income details. Or they could demand that you send money to them. Despite what your caller ID might say, these calls are not legitimate and you should just hang up.

He says the Social Security scammers are the most frequent scam calls in the community.

The Seymour Chamber of Commerce is announcing that it has chosen Dan Robison as the new president of the organization.

Robison is a Seymour native who attended Seymour High School.

Most recently he has been working in Clearwater, Florida as Store Manager of a Walmart Neighborhood Market. While there he served in the local chamber, including two years as chairman of that board. He was recognized with several awards including the spirit of chamber award, outstanding director and business hall of fame.

Robison’s new role will take effect March 2nd. He will be welcomed at the Chamber’s annual dinner on March 5th.

The previous Seymour chamber president, Tricia Bechman, reigned in November after 5 ½ years with the chamber.

The Alliance for Substance Abuse Progress in Bartholomew County is launching a program where those helping others into recovery from addiction can get help themselves.

Nathan Walsh, the head of ASAP’s Hub,  explained that many of those working to fight addiction, have battled addictions of their own.

A new group for Professionals in Recovery will meet every Thursday from noon to 1 p.m. at the ASAP Hub in the Doug Otto United Way Center on 13th Street in Columbus. Their first meeting is scheduled for this Thursday.

Walsh said the Hub will also soon be starting a yoga group paired with a 12-step recovery program. That is set to start on Saturday, Feb. 15th from noon to 1:30 p.m.

For more information, you can call (812) 418-8705.

Columbus police say an arrest was made after reports of a man snooping around vehicles this morning in the downtown area.

Police received a report of a man looking into vehicles at about 5:10 a.m. Monday morning in the area of 14th and Chestnut streets. They found 36-year-old Clifford D. Roberts of North Vernon in the area and found that he had two outstanding Bartholomew County warrants.

He was arrested and taken to the Bartholomew County Jail.

State and local authorities arrested three Columbus residents on drug charges Friday evening, after police received an anonymous tip about drug activity.

The Bartholomew County Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team and the Indiana State Police Drug Enforcement Section served search warrants on three residences in the 100 block of Cherry Street Friday. The search uncovered about nine ounces of methamphetamine, along with drug paraphernalia.

56-year-old Doreen Streeval and 55-year-old Roger K. Burton are facing felony charges including dealing and possessing methamphetamine, while 58-year-old Randall L. McMillan is being accused of possessing methamphetamine.

Burton is also facing a felony charge of trafficking with an inmate.